Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 863: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that two new phone transmitter panels have recently been placed on a site (details supplied) in Dublin 15; the effect the transmissions from these panels are believed to have on individuals living and working in the immediate vicinity; if more panels are planned for this building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28849/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department maintains a watching scientific brief on health issues relating to non-ionising radiation, including mobile telephony. The Department's involvement in matters concerning the health effects of non-ionising radiation (transmissions), which includes radio frequency emissions from mobile phone base stations is guided by advice from national and international health authorities which include the World Health Organisation of the United Nations. The limits for non-ionising radiation are global limits established internationally by the International Commission for Non Ionising Radiation Protection. There is no scientific evidence to date that exposure up to these limits is damaging to health. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), conducts audit measurements to verify compliance with these limits. My Department has been in contact with ComReg who instigated earlier measurements at the school in January 2006. According to ComReg another set of measurements was undertaken recently inside the school grounds. The report on these measurements is at present under review by ComReg. I will ask my officials to liaise with ComReg and to make contact with the Deputy when the report is finalised. The siting of individual mobile phone masts and panel antennae is a matter for the relevant planning authorities. My Department has no function in the matter. I acknowledge that real fears exist amongst certain parts of the community about the health impacts of these masts. I am sympathetic and understanding of these fears and the concerns that underpin them. However, I must point out that to date, there is no scientific medical evidence that mobile telephone masts, which include 3G mobile phone masts, operating within the internationally accepted guidelines, are injurious to health.